George kale foster



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'IO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, GEORGE` KALE FOSTER, of San Francisco city, San Francisco county, Stateof California, have invented a new and improved Fire-Ladder and Hose-Carriage combined; andI do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention without further invention or experiment.

The nature of my inventicnwis to provide a fire-ladder and hose-carriage combined, constructed in such a manner as to be easily and rapidly transported from place to place, to be very compactyand the ladders at the same time be capable of as great extension as may be necessary, or as is compatible with the strength of the A material. To effect this object construct a carriage with four wheels mounted on a suitable frame, and supporting two segmental racks. These racks are attached at one end to a number of laddcrsand braces, so fastened together as to form a series of knee-levers placed in opposition to each other, and raised from a horizontal position to one more or less angular, by the segmental racks, and a mechanism consisting of geared wheels to give motion to the racks. To more fully explain the construction and operation of my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings and the letters marked thereon, of which- Figurefl is a perspective View, showing the ladders elevated for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, in which the ladders are closed, and in a form to be transported.

-Figure 3, a sectional elevation, showing more plainly the mechanism for raising the ladders.

Figurelilroneof the rods which holds the ladders together, showing the swivel joints more plainly.

Similar lett-ers indicate like parts in each df the gures.

A1A are wheels, upon which is placed the frame B, conveniently shaped to support the machinery7 and allow the wheels to be cramped suiciently to tprn short corners. D 'D are the standards which support the axis of the segmental racks, which are shown at F and G. Upon 4the axles of the wheels A A are fastened the platesA a a, and upon thcsc plates turn the plates a', which are-fastened to the frame I3 B, and steady the machine when turning. The plates a and a support the hose-reels `C C. c' c a1e han lwheels"to operate the upright, shaft b, and -its pinion, g g, or, if necessary, gear may be substituted to give greater power. The pinionsg move the bevelled wheels 7a, which are attached tothe horizontal shafts S These shafts are moved in opposite directions to raise and lower the ladders, and carry the spur pinions T T. These pinions engage the teeth of the segmental racksF-G. yThe segment G is attached at one end to the end of the lowest ladder I', while the segment'F is attached to' one end of the brace I which is opposite to it. The next ladder above is fastened to the upper end of the lower ladder by,the joint R, and the corresponding brace is fastened in a similar manner to the lower brace or lever, and in the saine manner as many ladders and their braces as may be necessary to gain a proper altitude, the whole forming a continuous ladder. The hinges R R are 0f a kind which will allow the apparatus to shut very closely together when not in use, the ladders Il I I I being inside the braces I I I I; The ends of the rods or fulcra V V have each a swivel ljoint, the outer end of' which is a ring, rr 7', and serves to support and carry up the hose from the reels E E. e e are ratchets fastened to the upright shafts bb, and are held in any place by the-pawls ald. z' is the step which supports the shaft b, nm arc the steps on the standards D D by which to reach the ladders I. My machine has a tongue, at the end of which isaifoldingbar, which, when the machine is standing'still, can be let down to support the end oi the tongue. Below the tongue is the brake-bar. The brake-blocks press against the wheels below the level of the axle, so that by lifting the tongue they are brought into contact with the wheels.

To operate my machine after being placed in position, the hand-'wheels c, or their equivalents, are turned by two or more men at each one, thus .setting the shai't b and pinion q in motion. Those in turn more thewheels Iz h and pinions T T. Thesepinions move in opposite directions, and draw theends H I-I of the segments and Gr, with their attached levers I and I', nearer to the centre. This raises the other ends, and these in turn raise the next pair, and in this mann-er'the whole series is elevated to the proper height. They can then be ,moved to one side or the other, and rest on the roof or a window-seat of the building, or the apparatusV may stand upright, and will be firm enough to support a manto direct the nozzle of the hose, or become the ine-ans of escape and ready descent to the inmates of a burning building when allother resources have ybeen cut oil'. As a length of hose equal to the height oi' the ladder is carried up with it, there will b e no di-ti' u'lty about the angle'ot` the ladders, and the lower end of the hose O can be coupled directly to the hose-P, andva-itfliv thefen'gined or hydrant. The swivel joints at the ends of the rods V allow the rings r toturn in any direction to accommodate themselves to the hose O, as the ladders are elevated or lowered. By constructing the ladders and braces withthe hinges or rule joints, as described, great strength and firmness is given to the whole series. 2

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. The segment-ul racks F G and pinious T T; opera-ted by the gear L g and hand-Wheel c, substantially as. described and for the purpose set forth.

2. I also claim, in combination with 'the ladder the swivel-joint ringsr rr, on the ends of the fulcrum r-ods, to support and carry up the hose whenthe ladder is raised for use.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my handlfzmd seal.

" GEORGE K. FOSTER. ILL. s]

Witnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, Gos. A. MANETY. 

